I have been lucky enough to have some amazing people in my life who have been able to offer me an alternative perspective to this belief. I've had friends accept me and 'be there' for me (all of me), for as much as I have let them in.

Drawing by me

But I remain terrified, yes terrified is not too strong a word. Terrified that they won't be able to take my emotions and mental health problems. That they will be sick of me, cut ties and wish they have never got close to me.

I reckon there should be a World BPD Day. Bipolar remains poorly understood by the majority of people and people with bipolar have to deal with stigma, stereotypes and judgements all too often. BPD is arguably even less well understood by most people. People with BPD have stereotyped FAR too often.

I wonder if a World BPD Day is on its way? Do you think there should be one? Tweet me @TalkingAboutBPD.

My secret life where I take medication, go to doctors appointments and turn down invitations with excuses because I'm seeing my therapist or I need to be alone to cope with whatever's going through my head.

My secret life where I say vaguely mutter 'I left uni for a year because I was ill', rather than say that I had an all consuming breakdown, depression and an eating disorder which left me housebound, reclusive and dependent for months.

Drawing by me

I already felt a huge sense of shame about myself. But living a secret life where I didn't feel I could tell the truth compounded this shame.

Always hiding your mental health problems can be so painful & exhausting. Like living a secret life.

I have started to become more open and tell my truth retrospectively. But sometimes the shame feels so big the words get stuck in my mouth and I look at the ground and mutter something that feels like a lie.

Honesty is very important to me. More than ever, I am able to speak my truth and I'm finding the people who like me for who I am actually am, rather than who I feel I have to present myself as.

Drawing by me

Leading a secret life with a mental health condition or illness can be extremely hard socially. I hope everyone reading this finds their own way through the difficult social aspects of their experiences.